Dexmedetomidine vs Propofol-lidocaine Mixture in Preventing the Post Operative Emergence Agitation Following Sevoflurane Anasthesia

Emergence agitation (EA) is a frequent and distressing complication in pediatric anesthesia, particularly following the use of volatile agents such as sevoflurane. It is characterized by restlessness, inconsolable crying, disorientation, and incongruent behavior during the early recovery period from general anesthesia (Dahmani S et al.,2014 ). Although EA is usually self-limited, it may cause harm to patients by leading to self-injury, disruption of surgical sites, removal of intravenous lines, or increased stress for caregivers and healthcare providers. The reported incidence of EA in children ranges between 10% and 80%, with higher prevalence observed in younger patients and in ophthalmic surgeries due to sensory deprivation and postoperative discomfort (Dahmani S et al.,2014 ). Sevoflurane remains the most widely used inhalational agent in pediatric anesthesia because of its rapid induction, low airway irritability, and favorable hemodynamic profile. However, it has been consistently associated with a higher risk of EA compared with other anesthetic techniques (Zhang Y et al., 2022) - (Liu J et al., 2022). Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has emerged as a promising agent due to its sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties without significant respiratory depression (Zhang Y et al., 2022) - (Liu J et al., 2022). Several studies have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing the incidence and severity of EA when administered perioperatively (Zhang Y et al., 2022)- (Abdel-Ghaffar HS et al., 2019). On the other hand, propofol, a short-acting intravenous anesthetic with sedative and antiemetic properties, has also been investigated for EA prevention. When combined with lidocaine, propofol infusion provides not only smooth sedation and rapid recovery but also decreases pain associated with injection and potentially modulates airway reflexes and emergence agitation (Kim YH et al., 2014). Previous studies have shown that a single bolus dose of propofol at the end of surgery can reduce EA incidence in children undergoing ophthalmic surgery (Aouad MT t al., 2007). Meta-analyses further confirmed the beneficial role of propofol in reducing EA and improving recovery profiles (Liu J et al.,2022) -(Li Y et al.,2019). In ophthalmic surgeries for young children, smooth emergence from anesthesia is crucial, as agitation can compromise surgical outcomes, increase the risk of complications, and delay recovery (Kim YH et al., 2014)- (Aouad MT t al., 2007).